JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An armed group opposed to Hamas reportedly carried out a dramatic overnight raid in central Khan Younis, southern Gaza, abducting several members of a prominent local family after a fierce exchange of gunfire with Hamas terrorists. Palestinian media reported that the operation was conducted under the cover of Israeli military drones, although the reported Israeli assistance has not been independently confirmed.

The raid took place around Abu Hamid Square and the Al-Karama camp, an area where members of the Barbah family are known to reside. According to Palestinian reports, members of an anti-Hamas militia entered the area during the night. Hamas terrorists who were present identified the armed group, triggering heavy exchanges of fire that continued for an extended period. Residents reportedly recorded sounds of gunfire and fighting throughout the night. The militia eventually completed its operation and withdrew from the area.

Members of the Barbah family confirmed Monday morning that a “large number” of their relatives had been abducted. Palestinian journalists reported that at least four people were taken, although the exact number and their identities have not yet been established.

The reports also claimed that Israeli drones provided aerial cover during the operation, enabling the armed group to move through the area and withdraw. There has been no independent confirmation of this allegation or an official Israeli statement confirming involvement.

The incident highlights the growing challenges facing Hamas as it attempts to maintain control over Gaza amid the emergence of armed groups opposed to its rule.

Meanwhile, the IDF continues its campaign of targeted strikes against Hamas operatives across the Gaza Strip.

The military announced that four members of Hamas’s military wing were killed in several airstrikes in northern Gaza. Among those identified were Nabil Hamad, a department head in Hamas’s recruitment network who was involved in strengthening and expanding the organization’s military wing, and Muhannad Nader Mahmoud Dahdouh, a sniper commander who had participated in combat and carried out attacks against Israeli forces.

Two additional Hamas terrorists were killed in separate strikes last week. They were identified as Wael Naif Fahmi Muslim, a Nukhba terrorist who infiltrated Israel during the October 7 massacre, and Arafat Kamal Mohammed Ar’ir, a commander in Hamas’s rocket unit.

According to the IDF, the four had been involved in planning attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians while working to rebuild Hamas’s military capabilities, in violation of the ceasefire. The military said the terrorists were eliminated in aerial strikes to remove the threats they posed.

The latest developments come amid continuing tensions over the durability of the ceasefire. Israel maintains that Hamas is exploiting the relative calm to rebuild its military infrastructure, while the US-brokered agreement remains fragile and negotiations over its implementation have encountered significant difficulties.

The reported raid by anti-Hamas gunmen could represent another challenge to Hamas’s authority in southern Gaza, particularly if armed opposition groups are increasingly willing to confront the organization directly. However, the extent of the militia’s capabilities and the circumstances surrounding the reported abductions remain unclear.